We used the ATM in the hotel lobby to get currency when we arrived; it was so much cheaper than dealing with it at our bank. You can also change US bills at the front desk of the hotel.
For more advice, see:
Viking China (Part 2) Start at the end and work backwards because the information on page 1 is already out of date due.

Looks like the article is based on a press release from the ship builder Vard and not from Viking.
I didn't see anything in the Media Center on the Viking but then again, I didn't read every single article word for word seeing if maybe they slipped in a quick comment about future plans, The Viking message has always been well controlled and always given very little hint as to future plans.

I was not thrilled with the call in Algiers either, other than the fact that I notched up another continent, but it had more to do with the visa requirements and the inability to explore on our own than it had to do with the city itself. I would have liked to have wandered around a bit looking in shop windows, watching the people around me. I think that Viking did the best they could considering the circumstances and the restrictions -- and they did give us Algiers.
That said, while our bus was border- line acceptable, I thought our guide did a good job and that the tour itself was deigned to give us a quick ride around the city to kind of give us the lay of the land and let the optional tours delve into more depth.

A Shutterfly sale that I could not pass up finally prompted me to organize our photos, put together the photo books and make the website for this trip. The books are ordered and the website is ready to view.

The workings of the upgrade fairy are shrouded in mystery. There seems to be no criterion for offering an upgrade, complimentary or otherwise--not how many cruises you have been on, not whether you use a TA or book direct, not any other measure I can think of.

Although it can vary. Viking menu rotations and Viking itineraries are not linked as they are on other cruise lines. The only part of the menu that links to the port of the day is the Regional Cuisine feature of the day.

For some cruise lines, the minimum number of signups is 25 but on Viking, the minimum number is 1 person. Although someone did report that the ship they were on decided to cancel the party when there were only 8 people signed up; it is the only time I have heard of an M&M not taking place.
Moreover, CC members are encouraged to bring along the other members of their traveling party. One time, a member brought her entire party of 10.
You do need to give the full names of everyone in your party when you sign up. This is so that Viking can deliver your invitation to the correct cabin. Viking will be given only the list of names; they are not given our screen names.
Finally, if your specialty restaurant reservation conflicts with the M&M, talk with the maitre d' in advance and try to arrange to arrive later. M&M is a lot of fun and it is a good way to meet people.

The included tour in Rome is called Snapshots of Rome and is 5.5 hours long (not to be confused with Highlights of Rome & the Colliseum, which is a full-day paid tour). It leaves between 8am and 9am and is back on board during the lunch hours. We did it because we knew we would still be fighting jetlag and I did indeed sleep most of the way too and from the ship. We have been to Rome before and seen all the highlights upclose and personal, so this was just a nice drive around the city.
Snapshot is a drive-by tour of Rome ending at the Vatican with time to use the bathrooms, shop and maybe get into the Basilica if the line isn't too long. We lucked out. We were there on Monday, New Year's Eve. Offices were closed and traffic was light, so we did not spend much time waiting in traffic. However, tourists were out in droves at the Vatican and we chose not stand in line. Instead we walked along the Tiber. The tour makes one other stop for pictures at the Circus Maximus; it is the only time (other than the pitstop at a service station) that you get off the bus.
Please don't ask me what we saw exactly because the only answer you will get is that we saw a lot of Roman ruins and marble buildings. I think we hit the highlights: most of the 7 major churches (like St. John in Lateran, Saint Paul outside the wall, St. Mary Major, etc.), Circus Maximum, Colliseum, Victor Emmanuel Monument, Via Veneto, etc.

NO! Not necessarily and usually none of the above. In fact, if you hit it at the right time, it can actually quiet. Of course, the right time differs from night to night and from cruise to cruise. Every cruise has its own pace and its own vibe.

Right here, my friend, right here!
DH and I are are quite happy to serve ourselves breakfast and lunch but at dinner time, I like the idea of sitting down to an elegantly served meal--one that is pre-ordered and specially prepared for me because I can't eat garlic, bell pepper and raw onion but is still fairly close to the item listed on the dinner menu. By dinner time I'm tired of asking, "is this made with bell-pepper or garlic or raw onion?" for every item that is on the buffet line that looks interesting. It just makes dinner that much more relaxing for us.